Liam Doddrell is the clear headline act in NCU Section One after a superb season with the bat that has taken him past 900 runs and well clear at the top of the scoring charts.
The Lurgan opener has amassed 906 runs from 16 innings at an average of 69.69, scoring at an impressive strike rate of 113.3. His campaign has featured four half-centuries and three hundreds, with a best of 157 not out, while 74 fours and 38 sixes underline the range of his scoring. It has been a season of both volume and authority.
Saintfield’s Werner Brand is second with 707 runs, also from 16 innings, averaging 50.50. Brand has matched Doddrell for centuries with three and has been particularly strong through the off-side and square of the wicket, as shown by his table-leading 86 fours. His unbeaten 157 also stands alongside Doddrell’s best score.
Bangor’s Brodie Harrison has arguably been the most consistent high-impact batter in the division. He has 649 runs from 15 innings at a superb average of 92.71, the best among the leading group. His unbeaten 172 is the highest score on the list, and with 31 sixes he has been a major force in Bangor’s strong batting returns.
Carrickfergus’ Atish Varape has also enjoyed an excellent campaign, scoring 620 runs in only 12 innings at 88.57. He has hit five half-centuries and one hundred, and his 81 fours show just how frequently he has found the boundary. Few players have combined consistency and scoring fluency as effectively.
Donacloney Mill’s Lachy Aitken completes the top five with 596 runs at 45.85. His unbeaten 140 has been backed up by four fifties, and he has provided vital stability in the Donacloney Mill order.
Derriaghy’s Matt Scoble is next with 470 runs from 11 innings, including two hundreds and a best of 129. Team-mate Craig Lewis has been one of the most explosive players in the section, scoring 407 runs at a strike rate of 130.0 and clearing the rope 31 times.
Bangor’s depth is clear from the presence of several names in the top 20. Samuel McMillan has made 441 runs, including an unbeaten 109, while Sebastian Yeates and Ian Butler have also made telling contributions. That spread of scoring has been one of Bangor’s strengths.
Lurgan, too, have not relied on Doddrell alone. Jaydee Oliver has 378 runs, including a century, while Stephen Johnston and Jack Maxwell have added important support through the middle order.
Armagh have had runs from Samuel Wilson, whose 362 have come at a rapid strike rate of 138.2, as well as Aaron Wright and Luan Liebenberg. Saintfield’s Gareth Harrison has provided solid back-up to Brand with 360 runs, while Carrickfergus also have CJ Van der Walt among the main contributors.
But the race is led by Doddrell. With more runs than anyone else, three centuries, 38 sixes and a strike rate above 113, he has set the standard in Section One batting. Behind him, Brand, Harrison and Varape have produced outstanding campaigns of their own, ensuring the run-scoring charts remain one of the most compelling stories of the season.
NCU SECTION ONE BATTING AGGREGATES
Name
Club
Runs
Average
HS
50s
100s
Liam Doddrell Lurgan 906 69.69 157* 4 3 Werner Brand Saintfield 707 50.50 157* 3 3 Brodie Harrison Bangor 649 92.71 172* 4 1 Atish Varape Carrickfergus 620 88.57 103 5 1 Lachy Aitken Donacloney Mill 596 45.85 140* 4 1 Matt Scoble Derriaghy 470 52.22 129 1 2 Samuel McMillan Bangor 441 31.50 109* 2 1 Craig Lewis Derriaghy 407 29.07 94 4 0 Jaydee Oliver Lurgan 378 34.36 120 2 1 Sebastian Yeates Bangor 364 33.09 83* 2 0 Samuel Wilson Armagh 362 30.17 97 3 0 Gareth Harrison Saintfield 360 36.00 76 3 0 Ian Butler Bangor 339 33.90 54* 2 0 Ryan Matthews Donacloney Mill 292 36.50 78* 2 0 Stephen Johnston Lurgan 292 20.86 58 2 0 Aaron Wright Armagh 273 39.00 66* 2 0 Neil Kilpatrick Donacloney Mill 272 24.73 62 2 0 Jack Maxwell Lurgan 262 23.82 45 0 0 CJ Van der Walt Carrickfergus 258 28.67 46 0 0 Luan Liebenberg Armagh 251 20.92 74 2 0
